Lenny at Large: Local actors have 'Wicked' careers

Framingham native Kevin McMahon and Walnut Hill School grad Kyle Brown are both performing in "Wicked," at the Boston Opera House Aug. 7-Sept. 15. Local teachers gave them their inspiration.

Lenny Megliola/Daily News correspondent

Kevin McMahon didn’t mind singing in his church’s choir in Framingham when he was young. The anonymity suited him. When he got to Marian High, there was a musical theater class that intrigued him. "I was always singing as a kid," he said. Now Marian High offered something to his liking. Yet he hesitated. "I was almost too shy to do that."

He screwed up his courage and went for it. McMahon, now 52, never looked back. He’s made a career of musical theater and is playing several roles in the national tour of "Wicked" now at the Boston Opera House. He’s been with the big box office show for four years. "A steady job (in this business) is a blessing," said McMahon.

Kyle Brown, 28, is in the production too. His career path changed when he discovered Natick’s prestigious Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts. "I come from a family of six and I’m the youngest," said Brown. "I was starving for attention. I wanted to act. But I also wanted to dance."

From his home in Amsterdam, N.Y. he searched for performing arts schools around the country. Particularly, he wanted a school that best prepared him to get in a conservatory after high school. "Walnut Hill seemed like the best option. I liked what they had to offer."

An added bonus was Natick itself. With class friends, Brown would walk downtown from the school. "For someone from a small town, I felt liberated in Natick. We’d go to the Common, the ice cream shop and Dunkin’ Donuts (on East Central Street). Natick’s so charming."

At a small Catholic school in Framingham and a renowned performing arts school in Natick, McMahon and Brown, respectively, launched their careers.

Mother & Son

When McMahon was a college senior in 1981 his mother, Ann, died of a brain aneurysm. In 2007, McMahon needed back surgery. Because of his mother’s medical history, the doctors did a thorough work up on him. An MRI revealed he had a brain tumor.

"I was lucky they caught it," said McMahon. Memories of his mother are with him no matter what show he’s in or what stage he’s on.

It was another woman, Rosemary Costa, who inspired the shy McMahon at Marian High. Costa taught the musical theater class. "She spurred me on," he said. McMahon didn’t join up until his sophomore year. By his senior year "I was getting bigger parts. I had the lead in "Pajama Game."

McMahon was accepted to the prestigious Boston Conservatory after high school. "The Conservatory is very intense; it’s not for everyone. Lot of people get burned out and drop out." But it provides the training you need. A demanding classroom curriculum was followed by doing shows at night in the black box theater. McMahon reveled in it. "I had the time of my life."

A life that took him to California where he found work almost immediately.. "I made a good living in regional theater. I did ‘City of Angels’ (his first national tour) for a year and ‘Forever Plaid’ on and off for five years."

The four years with "Wicked" is the steadiest gig so far. "I’m playing five or six parts. I’m kept busy changing costumes, facial hair and wigs." It’s a rigorous business, especially for someone over 50. "I stay in shape," said McMahon. "I run. I’m training for a half-marathon at Suffolk Downs (during the show’s Boston engagement). I do a race in almost every city."

He concedes that four years straight years on the road can be taxing, although when "Wicked" played Hawaii’s Diamondhead for two months no one complained. Wherever McMahon goes he takes his dog, Shamus. "I’m never bored," said the hard-working actor.

Doing "Wicked" in Boston will allow McMahon to catch up with friends and family. "My whole family lives around here."

As a Tony Awards voter, McMahon gets to see all the Broadway shows. His favorite show is always the one he’s in. "Wicked" has been a phenomenon. "It’s a story of an underdog," said McMahon, "and everyone likes to cheer for an underdog."

An early bite

They call it "the bug" in show business, the point in someone’s life when you know you’ve found a calling. "I was bitten when I was 5 or 6," said Brown. "I didn’t like sports. I gravitated to theater. I started taking dance lessons."

When he was in kindergarten he played the trumpet in "Little Boy Blue." In elementary school he was in "Pinocchio" and "The Sound of Music" twice. He was cast in a community theater production. "It never seemed daunting, it was just something I loved to do," said Brown. "But I didn’t know a career could be made of it."

He went to a public high school for two years. "I was in the drama club, but I wanted more." That’s when he researched Walnut Hill. "I liked everything it had to offer, and it wasn’t that far away." It helped that a friend had gone there for dance, Brown’s specialty

His mother drove him the three hours to Natick. "I fell in love with the school right away. It was a dream come true for me."

Nobody just walks into Walnut Hill. They have to audition. "I had to sing a song from ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ and a monologue from ‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.’"

He learned a great deal, and was inspired by, Joe Cabral, Walnut Hill’s head of theater. "He’s an amazing teacher," said Brown. "I still look for his approval. He’s so passionate about what he does. Joe pushes you to work to your full potential."

"The Crucible" was Brown’s favorite production at the school. "It’s a very heavy show for high school kids. I was proud of the work we did. I gained so much knowledge of theater at Walnut Hill. It helped me grow up. It was a dream come true. It was amazing. The friends I made there are forever."

Walnut Hill also boosted Brown’s chances to get into the highly-regarded Cincinnati Conservatory where he focused on musical theater. He got an agent after graduating and landed a role on Broadway in "Legally Blonde," then joined the production’s national tour for a year and a half. Brown joined the cast of "Wicked" in November. "I primarily dance in the show."

The springboard for all of this? Walnut Hill. "It was the best experience of my life," said Brown.

Reach Lenny Megliola at lennymegs@aol.com.

"Wicked"

WHEN: Aug. 7-Sept. 15
WHERE: Boston Opera House
TICKETS: $35-$275; A lottery for a limited number of $25 tickets to be held at the box office, in-person only, 2-1/2 hours before the show.
INFO: 1-800-982-2787; www.BroadwayInBoston.com

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